Staff Optometrist

Veterans Health Administration • West Palm Beach, FL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The West Palm Beach VA Healthcare at the Vero Beach location is seeking an experienced optometrist to provide comprehensive eye care to veterans and support the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. The position contributes to quality-care standards and requires strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability to a growing medical center. The purpose of the work is to provide quality patient care and enhance the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Eye Clinic.

The optometrist provides advanced diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic care; diagnoses complex ophthalmic conditions; and plans and carries out treatment programs. The role includes coordinating care with other professionals, working with Optometry and Ophthalmology, and contributing to optometric externship teaching, supervision, and administration. Patient care includes comprehensive assessments and diagnostic work-ups, clinic interventions, routine eye examinations, patient education, ordering and evaluating diagnostic tests, recommending treatment or referral, and evaluating the effectiveness of prior treatment. The optometrist documents assessments, treatment decisions, plans of care, ongoing management, and outcomes; orders medications, tests, and consultations; prescribes glasses; manages ocular conditions such as diabetes-related eye disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma; interprets eye and adnexal diseases and ocular manifestations of systemic disease; and orders, verifies, dispenses, and adjusts optical aids for visually impaired patients.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor, and the incumbent may be required to work various shifts temporarily or permanently according to facility or patient-care needs. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. Relocation reimbursement may be available to qualifying applicants; recruitment incentives are authorized, while permanent change of station is not authorized.

Requirements

• Doctor of Optometry degree from an approved school or college of optometry, or an education accepted by a U.S. licensing body as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure.
• Active, full, and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current state registration if required.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the grade-level qualifications: Associate grade requires only the basic requirements; Full grade requires two years of optometric practice or an acceptable residency equivalent and demonstrated independent clinical competence; Intermediate grade requires four years of practice or an acceptable residency equivalent, passage of National Board of Examiners in Optometry examinations, and high professional attainment; Senior and Chief grades require the additional professional attainment and performance described in the announcement.
• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and any required drug screening; comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
• Meet the physical requirements, including moderate lifting up to 44 pounds, carrying objects up to 15 pounds, frequent reaching and hand/finger use, walking, standing, bending, and climbing; be able to perform essential duties without hazard to self or others.

Nice To Haves

• One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent may substitute for two years of optometric practice where specified in the grade qualifications.
• Experience and professional accomplishments qualifying for Senior or Chief grade, such as faculty-level academic stature, leadership of major optometric initiatives, national program responsibility, significant vision research, or noteworthy professional publications.

Responsibilities

• Provide diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic optometric care.
• Diagnose complex ophthalmic conditions and plan and execute treatment programs.
• Integrate eye-care services with other professionals and work closely with Optometry and Ophthalmology to provide care to veterans.
• Contribute to the teaching, supervision, and administration of optometric externship programs.
• Provide comprehensive patient assessments, diagnostic work-ups, clinic interventions, health-history reviews, physical examinations, and patient education.
• Order and evaluate diagnostic tests, recommend treatment or referral, and validate the effectiveness of previously implemented medical treatment.
• Document health appraisal information, clinical assessments, treatment decisions, plans of care, ongoing management, and therapeutic outcomes.
• Order medications, diagnostic tests, and referral consultations as needed for patient encounters.
• Conduct routine eye examinations and prescribe glasses.
• Manage ocular conditions common in a hospital-based eye clinic, including diabetes, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
• Interpret diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa and ocular manifestations of systemic disease.
• Order, verify, dispense, and adjust optical aids for visually impaired patients.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Potential reimbursement of relocation expenses for qualifying applicants.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree